Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रार्द्धमाचरेद्विप्रोऽतिकृच्छ्रं चाश्वह चरेत् । जतप्तकृच्छ्रं करिवधे पराकं गोवधे स्मृतम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

kṛcchrārddhamācaredvipro'tikṛcchraṃ cāśvaha caret | jataptakṛcchraṃ karivadhe parākaṃ govadhe smṛtam || 77 ||

Translation

ブラーフマナは半分のクリッチャ（kṛcchra）を行い、馬を殺したならアティクリッチャ（atikṛcchra）を修すべきである。象を殺したなら「ジャ・タプタ」(ja‑tapta) クリッチャ、牛を殺したならパラーカ（Parāka）が定められる。

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्र-अर्धम्: half of the Kṛcchra (penance)
• कृच्छ्र-अर्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृच्छ्रस्य अर्धम्)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-कृच्छ्रम्: the Ati-kṛcchra (severe penance)
• अति-कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अत्यन्तं कृच्छ्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अश्व-हा: one who kills a horse
• अश्व-हा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अश्वं हन्ति इति)

• चरेत्: should observe
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जतप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: the Jataptakṛcchra (penance)
• जतप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जतप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जतप्तं कृच्छ्रम्—name of a penance)

• करि-वधे: in the case of killing an elephant
• करि-वधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करि (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (करिणः वधः)

• पराकम्: the Parāka (penance)
• पराकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गो-वधे: in the case of cow-killing
• गो-वधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गोः वधः)

• स्मृतम्: is prescribed/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is stated’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ardha-kṛcchra; Atikṛcchra; Ja-tapta-kṛcchra; Parāka

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that moral injury (especially violence against protected beings) requires deliberate purification through prāyaścitta, restoring inner discipline (śuddhi) and alignment with dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not directly describing bhakti practices, it supports devotion by insisting on ethical restraint (ahiṃsā) and corrective vows; purity of conduct is treated as a foundation for sustained Viṣṇu-bhakti and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (Dharma/Śrauta-Smārta ritual discipline) by prescribing specific vrata-like penances—kṛcchra, atikṛcchra, and parāka—as structured remedial rites.